Hever to Ashurst Walk

Saturday Walkers Club www.walkingclub.org.uk

Hever to Ashurst walk

A surprisingly remote part of the High Weald on the Kent/East Sussex border.

Length Main Walk: 16¼ km (10.1 miles). Three hours 55 minutes walking time. For the whole excursion including trains, sights and meals, allow at least 8 hours. Short Walk 1, starting from Cowden: 12½ km (7.8 miles). Three hours walking time. Short Walk 2, fnishing at Cowden: 11½ km (7.1 miles). Two hours 40 minutes walking time.

OS Maps Explorers 147 & 135. Hever station, map reference TQ465445, is in Kent, 3 km SE of Edenbridge.

Toughness 4 out of 10 (3 and 2 for the Short Walks).

Features This walk takes in a quiet part of the High Weald on the border of Kent and East Sussex. At its centre is the sleepy village of Cowden, whose surprisingly industrial past is preserved in some evocative local names: The Old Forge, Furnace Pond, etc. The village did indeed have a blast furnace from 1573 and the region's plentiful supplies of iron ore supported a thriving industry until the 18thC, when coke from the northern coalfelds replaced charcoal from local trees as the preferred fuel. The walk route passes several attractive old manor houses but the area's well-known historic houses which are open to the public (Hever Castle, Penshurst Place, etc) are all on the other side of the railway. Away from the tourist coaches, this is a surprisingly remote area of low hills and wooded valleys with some fne bluebell woods, notably Heathersome's Wood and Coomb Wood. As with any walk in the High Weald, you will need to be prepared for muddy or waterlogged paths at almost any time of the year. Some of the little-used footpaths on the walk route are not easy to follow, especially when overgrown in summer.

https://www.walkingclub.org.uk/walk/hever-to-ashurst/ 1/12 Walk Two link routes are described between Cowden village and its station (2 km Options away by road) which in efect split the walk into two Short Walks. The frst would be worth considering if you missed the train out: you could start from Cowden station an hour later and get to the village at about the same time as the main group. For a longer walk you could combine the Cowden fnish with one of the variations of the Cowden to Hever walk (#78), creating a long Hever or Cowden Circular walk. You will need to print those directions from the other walk document.

Additional An alternative afternoon route was dropped when the White Horse at Holtye Notes closed in 2014. Without the option of a second lunch pub there was little point in retaining this slightly longer route. A rather artifcial extension (out and back along the valley between Cowden and Moat Farm) has also been dropped. However, these sections are part of the Short Walk routes to and from Cowden station and could be inserted into the Main Walk.

Transport Hever, Cowden and Ashurst are adjacent stations on the Oxted–Uckfeld line, which has an hourly service from London Bridge, taking 40 minutes to Hever (longer on Sundays, when you have to change at East Croydon and/or Oxted). Buy a return to Ashurst (Kent) (or Cowden if you will be fnishing there). If driving, there is a large privately-owned parking area next to Hever station which costs £2.50 at all times. Cowden station has a small free car park “for Railway users only”; the one at Ashurst costs £2.90 Mon–Fri, free at weekends (2021).

Suggested Take the train nearest to 10:00 from London Bridge to Hever. If you are Train doing Short Walk 1 from Cowden and want a pub lunch in the village, leave an hour later.

Lunch The only pub on the walk route is The Fountain (01342-850528) in Cowden village, 7¾ km from Hever (4 km from Cowden station). This is an attractive village pub with a new conservatory and a secluded beer garden. It serves good home-made food up to 2pm (3pm on Sundays), but is closed Monday lunchtimes (except Bank Holidays). At weekends it is popular with walking and cycling groups, so call ahead to book a table.

Tea There are few refreshment places in this remote countryside, but the routes to Ashurst pass the Perryhill Orchard Farm Shop & Tea Rooms (01892- 770595) in mid-afternoon. The Farm Shop is open daily to 5pm and sells a tempting range of local ciders (which you can taste beforehand); the tearoom closes at 4.30pm. Allow at least an hour to reach Ashurst station, 4 km away.

https://www.walkingclub.org.uk/walk/hever-to-ashurst/ 2/12 There are no other refreshment places before Ashurst station, and none at all on the link route to Cowden station. However, you could break your return journey at Oxted, which has several cafés and cofee shops plus a conveniently placed JD Wetherspoon's pub right next to the station, the Oxted Inn (01883-723440).

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Version Jul-21

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Walk Directions

https://www.walkingclub.org.uk/walk/hever-to-ashurst/ 3/12 Walk Map

All maps © OpenStreetMap contributors Walk Options M. Main Walk (16¼ km) a. Short Walk 1, starting from Cowden (12½ km) b. Short Walk 2, fnishing at Cowden (11½ km)

https://www.walkingclub.org.uk/walk/hever-to-ashurst/ 4/12 Walk Directions If you are doing a Short Walk from Cowden station, start at §E. A. Hever Station to Christmas Mill (2½ km) 1. Arriving from London, do not exit through the station car park but cross the footbridge and take a fenced path sloping up the bank. At the top turn sharp right at a path junction, joining the Eden Valley Walk1 (EVW). Go through a metal kissing gate into a large feld and continue along its right-hand edge for a short distance, where it opens out. You will be leaving this irregularly-shaped feld away to the left, but the right of way takes an indirect route which perhaps refects older feld boundaries. 2. Start by aiming for the left-hand end of a copse 150m ahead. There is a waymarker post there indicating that you turn left to head for the left-hand end of another group of trees, also 150m away. Continue alongside this second group of trees (which you will fnd are concealing a large pond), keeping them on your right. 3. Follow the feld edge round to the right, going over a stile next to the trees along the way. Just before reaching a feldgate in the corner go through a metal side gate in the wire fence and bear left onto a farm track, passing a barn and then a house on your right. Before the track turns right, veer left at a footpath marker post onto a grassy path, continuing through a wooden gate into a private garden. 4. Follow the gravel path round to the right of Lydens Barn and continue along its driveway past a restored oast house to Lydens Lane. Turn left (leaving the EVW) and go along this quiet lane for 700m to a T-junction with the B2026. 5. Cross the main road carefully and go over a stile to continue on a grassy track between hedges. At the end go over another stile and turn half-right to go along the bottom of a large feld, maintaining direction where the hedge bends right after 200m. Continue on a fenced track along the bottom of the next feld. 6. At the end go over an unobtrusive stile to the right of a metal feldgate, cross a lane and go through a small metal gate to continue along the right-hand edge of three more felds. In the third feld follow a grassy path round to the left to the top corner (ignoring an exit in the bottom corner and a gate into a private garden). Go past an oak tree and over a stile to come out onto a lane at a bend. B. Christmas Mill to Crippenden Manor (2 km) 7. Turn left onto the lane to go uphill, with glimpses of a large old mill pond behind the trees on your right. Where the lane curves round to the left keep ahead on the driveway to “Ockhams”, signposted as a footpath and going gently downhill. At the bottom of the slope, where the drive goes between two ponds, turn left over a stile beside a large oak tree to go alongside the smaller pond, heading SE. 8. At the end of the pond continue in the same direction, going gently uphill across a feld. On the far side go over a stile, across a concrete driveway and over another stile into the next feld, with two faint grassy paths ahead. At the time of writing the right of way was the right-hand path, which goes through a makeshift gate in a new wire fence up to the feld corner and continues through a new private garden. The owner would prefer walkers to take the signposted ‘Alternative Route’: up to and alongside the new fence, then turning right at the top to come to the same place. 9. Either way, just outside the exit from the top corner of the garden go through a gap in a wire fence into a wood and follow a path along its left-hand edge, still climbing gently. At the end go over a stile and across a plank bridge into a feld. Turn sharp right to go along its edge and go over a stile in the fence ahead. Keep to the right-hand side of a long narrow feld between two woods, still climbing and gradually curving round to the left.

https://www.walkingclub.org.uk/walk/hever-to-ashurst/ 5/12 10. At the brow of the hill go through a new metal gate in a deer fence and continue along the right-hand feld edge. In the next corner go through a similar gate and keep ahead down another feld, with a new wire fence on the left and later a copse. Ignore a gate on the left into those trees but go through a metal feldgate ahead onto a short track, then out through another feldgate onto the driveway to Crippenden Manor. C. Crippenden Manor to Leighton Manor (1¼ km) 11. Unless you want to take a short cut which bypasses the manor house, turn right onto the driveway. This curves round to the left and goes up a slope to the Equestrian Centre. For a short cut (which avoids a potentially muddy exit from the Equestrian Centre) you can turn left onto the driveway instead, then in 50m bear right onto a bridleway alongside a wooden fence into a wooded valley; the main route rejoins from the right after 200m. If you take this short cut (saving 250m), resume the directions at [14]. 12. On the suggested route you pass some riding stables at the top of the slope and come to an electrically-operated wooden gate across the driveway. Press the ‘Gate Release’ button on a post to enter a small landscaped area. At a path junction in front of a pond veer left to head E, passing a footpath signpost and some more stables to reach a metal feldgate at the top of a large sloping feld. 13. Go through the gate and follow a faint grassy path down the slope towards the right-hand feld edge (with a good view of Crippenden Manor2 over your right shoulder). Continue down the feld edge to the bottom corner. Ignore a feldgate of to the right and go over a concealed stile onto a short path which crosses a stream on a wooden footbridge. At a T- junction turn right onto a bridleway, the short cut mentioned above. 14. Take the bridleway through the wooded valley for 200m, eventually veering left at a marker post to cross a stream on a wide brick bridge. On the other side do not follow the bridleway round to the left but keep ahead through a small metal gate on a footpath which climbs steeply uphill, heading E. At the top of the hill pass to the right of an oak tree and go through another gate into a second feld. 15. Go straight across this feld and through a gate in the middle of the far side. Turn half- right as indicated to fnd a gate near the bottom right-hand corner. Follow a path down and across a stream on a wooden footbridge. On the other side veer right up a short slope and go across the driveway to Leighton Manor. D. Leighton Manor to Cowden (village) (2 km) 16. Go through a metal gate and continue up the right-hand side of a large feld, with a fence and trees on your right almost completely screening the landscaped grounds of Leighton Manor3 in the valley below. At the top of the slope, where the fence turns half-right, bear left and follow a faint grassy path across the feld, passing an isolated tree in the middle. 17. On the far side go through a small metal gate, 10m to the left of a more obvious high metal gate. Follow a path down to the right, through a wood. At the bottom of the slope it crosses a stream on a plank footbridge and continues along the valley foor, where you may have to pick your way around some waterlogged sections. 18. Eventually the woodland path climbs gently and comes to a three-way junction with a marker post where you turn left, joining the Sussex Border Path4 (SBP). The path soon veers right up a short fight of steps and leaves the wood through a wooden gate. 19. Keep ahead along a tarmac driveway, passing ponds on your left and the entrance to the picturesque Waystrode Manor5 on your right. At the end go through a gate and continue in the same direction along a road (Spode Lane), taking care as there is no pavement.

https://www.walkingclub.org.uk/walk/hever-to-ashurst/ 6/12 20. In 300m the road turns right and becomes North Street as it enters the village of Cowden. In a further 200m you come to a T-junction with the High Street, with the parish church just of to the left. For the village pub turn right onto the attractive High Street, away from the church and leaving the SBP. Follow the road round a left-hand bend and downhill to fnd The Fountain on the right. If you are not visiting the lunchtime pub you could head straight for the churchyard, which is the route out of the village. Continue the directions at §G. E. Cowden Station to The Moat (2 km) The frst 500m are the same as Walk #78. 21. From the single platform (where a plaque commemorates the victims of the Cowden rail crash6) go out through a gap to the left of the booking hall, turn right and take the left- hand of two ways out to a minor road. Go uphill on this road for 100m, then turn right into Wickens Lane, signposted as a public footpath. Go all the way along this lane, ignoring several driveways of to the left including (after 400m) the one signposted as a footpath taken by Walk #78. 22. At the end of the lane keep ahead past a few buildings and a yard on a farm track, climbing gently. Just before this goes into a wood veer right onto a short grassy track leading to a double metal feldgate. Go over a stile to its left and continue along the top edge of a large feld, curving round to the left and with fne Wealden views of to the right. 23. On the far side go over an awkward stile in the hedge and bear slightly left across the next feld, climbing gently towards the far left-hand corner. Go through a gap and follow the feld edge round to the left, passing a sandstone rock outcrop and with more fne views. You will be leaving the feld past farm buildings down to the right, so stay in the main part of the feld and turn right in the corner to go downhill towards them. 24. At the bottom go through a gate and down past the buildings of Sandfelds Farm to a minor road (Moat Lane). Turn right onto this road, crossing the railway line on a high bridge. In 300m ignore a bridleway on the left and a footpath on the right to continue past “The Moat” and a few other large properties. F. The Moat to Cowden (village) (2 km) 25. Continue along Moat Lane for a further 300m. After passing a converted oast house the road swings right and left, passes Moat Cottages and curves right. At this bend bear left onto a signposted footpath, going over a stile in the hedge to the right of a metal feldgate. Go across a patch of grassland and over another stile into the frst of three large felds. 26. If there is no clear path head W towards the left-hand edge of a copse in the middle of the feld and continue alongside it. At the far end of the trees turn half-left to go across the rest of this frst feld. As you go over a slight rise you should be able to see a couple of houses ahead, 500m away. You will be coming out onto a road by the house on the right (and there might be a grassy path heading directly towards it across the next two felds), but the right of way takes an indirect route which perhaps refects older feld boundaries. 27. As indicated by a yellow waymarker by a metal gate at the end of the frst feld, bear left to aim for the left-hand end of the boundary between the second and third felds. Go through a gap here and turn half-right to head back towards the house. At the left-hand end of its garden fence go out through a metal kissing gate onto the B2026. 28. Cross the road carefully and take the signposted footpath just of to the right, a narrow enclosed path which goes past the grounds of a house set back from the road. At the end go through a metal gate and continue in the same direction across a feld. Go through another gate on the far side and down a fight of steps in a wooded bank. Cross a stream on a new wooden footbridge and go back out through a gate into another feld.

https://www.walkingclub.org.uk/walk/hever-to-ashurst/ 7/12 29. Go along the right-hand feld edge to a stile in the corner. Go over this and follow a path down through some trees into a narrow valley. Go along its left-hand side for 100m, then veer left through a gap in the trees to cross a stream on a footbridge. Continue up the right-hand side of a feld, climbing steadily. 30. At the top go over a stile and along an enclosed path beside a small cemetery, Cowden's New Burial Ground. At the end there is a junction of paths, with the path ahead leading into the churchyard. The bridleway on the left is the route out of the village, so if you are not visiting the lunchtime pub you could resume the directions at [33] in §G. 31. For the village pub, follow the churchyard path past the south door of St Mary Magdalene7 (which is worth visiting) to an exit on the far side. Bear right onto a side street, then turn left to go along the attractive High Street. Follow the road round a left- hand bend and downhill to fnd The Fountain on the right. G. Cowden (village) to Kent Water (¾ km) 32. From the pub you need to retrace your steps up the High Street and go past the junction with North Street into the churchyard. Follow the path past the south door of St Mary Magdalene7 (which is worth visiting) to an exit in the far corner, where there are paths on either side of a wooden gate into the New Burial Ground. 33. Take the bridleway to the right of the cemetery, a broad grassy path between a wooden fence and a brick wall. At the end go through a gate and keep ahead down the grassy border of a large feld, heading SE. 34. At the bottom go over a stile beside a wooden feldgate and cross a ditch on a wide concrete bridge. Keep ahead across a meadow for 60m, where there is a bridge on the right across Kent Water8. If you are doing a Short Walk to Cowden station, go to §L. H. Kent Water to the A264 (1¾ km) 35. Cross the bridge into East Sussex, briefy (re)joining the Sussex Border Path4 (SBP). On the other side immediately turn right again onto a grassy path across a meadow, with the picturesque Sussex House Farm9 away to your left. 36. After passing to the right of a large ornamental pond go over a stile next to a wooden feldgate into another meadow. Keep ahead on a grassy path across it, passing to the right of an isolated tree. On the far side go over a stile in the hedge onto Sweetwoods Park Golf Course. Although a notice asks walkers to “keep to public footpath” the right of way across this golf course is poorly waymarked and difcult to follow. 37. Keep ahead on the left-hand side of a grassy strip between two fairways, dotted with trees. At the end of a patch of rough grassland go through a narrow gap in the hedge ahead and immediately turn left, leaving the SBP (with the path junction indicated by a low footpath marker post). Go alongside the hedge and then bear slightly right as you go up and across a sloping fairway, watching out for golfers playing from left to right. 38. The continuation of the right of a way is a well-concealed path through the undergrowth on the far side, with only the hint of a gap in the trees to help you fnd it. In 100m the footpath emerges into a more open area, with a green and two lakes down to the right. Go past an elevated tee on the left and keep ahead on a very faint path into the trees ahead.

https://www.walkingclub.org.uk/walk/hever-to-ashurst/ 8/12 39. In 25m you cross a ditch and the path – such as it is – bends slightly right to go past some holly trees. In a further 25m you come to a T-junction with a well-defned woodland path and turn left (with a yellow waymarker on a tree pointing back the way you came to confrm that this was the right of way). If you miss the faint path into the trees and stay on the edge of the golf course you will come to this well-defned path; turn sharp left onto it to rejoin the public footpath inside the wood. 40. The next stretch is easier as you simply follow a clear path through Heathersome's Wood for about 400m, climbing steadily and heading roughly SE. Shortly after the path levels out at the top of the wood fork left at a Y-junction (where the right fork leads back onto the golf course). Go out through a wooden gate with a yellow waymarker into the corner of a large feld. 41. Go along the right-hand feld edge, heading S. The exit is over a stile in the hedge about 100m in from the far corner, a little way to the right of a metal feldgate. Just before the corner you can follow a grassy path curving round to the left. Go over the stile onto the grass verge beside the A264. I. The A264 to Perryhill Orchard (2 km) 42. Cross this busy main road carefully and take the signposted footpath to the left of the driveway to Chantler's Farm. This grassy woodland path curves left and later veers right in front of a wooden fence surrounding a large pond. Follow the path alongside the fence, then go over a stile into the corner of a feld. 43. Turn half-right as indicated, heading roughly S and aiming for a metal feldgate in the tree boundary on the far side. Go through a wooden kissing gate to its left and continue alongside a wire fence on the right-hand edge of the next feld. Towards the end ignore a gate on the right and go all the way to the feld corner, where a new metal kissing gate takes you into Coomb Wood. 44. Inside the wood the path bends left but then peters out, and the right of way is not clear for the next 50m. You need to pick up a well-defned path heading roughly SW, to the left of some fainter paths apparently used by a scout group. This well-defned path descends and later swings left to head S, following the course of a stream in a gully down to the right. If you do fnd yourself on one of the alternative paths you can turn left onto another faint path above the gully, which merges with the public footpath further on. 45. After going through the wood for 400m the footpath merges with a bridleway coming in from a feld on the right and the route becomes much clearer. Follow this broad track for 400m, ignoring exits on both sides and heading SE. Where the track swings round to the right keep ahead through a wooden gate with a blue waymarker, staying on the public bridleway. 46. Continue along a driveway, passing some large buildings behind the high brick wall on your left. After passing the Gatehouse (with cupolas) you come to a T-junction and turn left. At the next (right-hand) bend there is a clear view of Bolebroke Castle10 and the other buildings in the grounds on your left. 47. Go along the driveway for a further 500m, past the landscaped grounds of the manor house and later with a large orchard behind a screen of poplars on the left. Shortly before reaching the B2026 you come to the modern Orchard Tea Rooms and Farm Shop on your left, the last refreshment place before Ashurst station. J. Perryhill Orchard to Beech Green Park (1¾ km) 48. Go out to the B2026 and turn left onto the road, crossing over carefully at some point. In 75m turn right into a lane with a concrete bridleway marker. After passing some cottages the lane curves right and drops downhill. Fork left at a three-way junction and follow the lane over a stream, round to the left and uphill to the buildings of Perryhill Farm.

https://www.walkingclub.org.uk/walk/hever-to-ashurst/ 9/12 49. At the top go past a wooden feldgate by Perryhill Oast and fork left in front of the large farmhouse onto a wide driveway leading up to Millwood Farm. Take the grassy track to the right of its entrance and go through an old metal feldgate into a large feld. Keep ahead briefy along its left-hand side, then turn left through a new metal gate. 50. Continue on a path between wire fences, soon with a line of closely-spaced poplars inside the right-hand fence. At the end go through another gate, across a patch of grassland and through another gate. Continue along the top of a steeply-sloping feld to the far corner, where there is a bench from which to take in the view back towards Ashdown Forest. 51. Go through a gate in this corner onto a short path through a belt of trees. At the end go over another stile (or squeeze past a metal gate) into a feld and bear right to head E along its edge. In the next corner go over a stile to the left of a metal feldgate to come out onto a minor road (Beech Green Lane). 52. Turn left and go along Beech Green Lane for 400m. Shortly before reaching a large house on the left (Beech Green Park) turn right of the lane, going over a stile to the right of a double metal feldgate into a large area of (private) parkland. K. Beech Green Park to Ashurst Station (2¼ km) 53. Bear left across a yard towards the corner of a wire fence, to the left of another double metal feldgate. Go through (or around) a wooden swing gate to continue alongside the fence, heading away from the road. At the end go through another gate and turn half-left across the parkland. 54. There is no clear path, but pass just to the right of the second tree from the left in a line of trees (which you will fnd has another tree directly behind it) and continue in this direction. On the far side go over an inconspicuous stile in a wire fence onto a path through a belt of trees, then out over another stile into more parkland. Keep ahead alongside a wood, with a prominent house (Highfelds Park) away to the left. 55. At the corner of the wood turn half-right to go up a slope. In the top corner go over a double stile and keep ahead across a feld, still climbing and with increasingly fne views across the Medway Valley as you go over the brow of the hill. On the far side go over a stile between two metal feldgates onto a tree-lined grassy track, gently descending towards Lodgefeld Farm. 56. At the bottom go through a wooden gate and turn left briefy onto a concrete driveway, then almost immediately veer right down a fight of steps cut into the bank. Keep ahead on a wide concrete track past some farm buildings. Go over a stile and follow a grassy path down across a meadow, curving round to the left where it opens out. 57. In the bottom corner do not go through a gap into another meadow but go over a stile on the left onto a fenced path down its left-hand side. About 50m before the bottom corner turn left at a waymarker post, crossing a plank bridge over a ditch onto a path through a neglected orchard. At the end go over a stile next to a metal feldgate into a lay-by on the A264. 58. Turn right to walk carefully along the grass verge of this busy main road. Shortly before going under a railway bridge you cross the River Medway, returning to Kent. Ignore a footpath and a cul-de-sac on the right, then turn right into the access road to Ashurst station. Cross the footbridge to Platform 1 for trains to London. L. Kent Water to Cowden Station (3 km) 59. Ignore the bridge and carry on across the meadow, rejoining the Sussex Border Path4 (SBP). In the far left-hand corner go over a stile next to a metal feldgate and continue along the right-hand margin of another meadow. At the far end go through a gate and turn right onto the B2026, briefy crossing Kent Water into East Sussex.

https://www.walkingclub.org.uk/walk/hever-to-ashurst/ 10/12 60. Cross the road carefully and immediately turn left over a stile in the hedge, to the left of a driveway. Go across a yard and through a small metal gate with a footpath waymarker into a horse training area. In the far left-hand corner go through a wooden feldgate and back across Kent Water on a footbridge. You now simply follow an enclosed path beside large farm felds for nearly 1 km, never far from the tree-lined stream on your right. 61. The path eventually comes to a metal footbridge where you cross Kent Water again. Turn left at a bridleway T-junction to immediately recross the stream, leaving the SBP. Keep ahead on a wide grassy strip between a hedge and a fence, later passing a cluster of farm buildings of to your left. The bridleway turns half-left and you go through a metal gate onto a minor road (Moat Lane). 62. Cross Moat Lane and take the signposted footpath opposite, going over a stile next to an old feldgate. The simplest route is to follow a faint grassy path slightly to the right, skirting around the low hill ahead. This goes up to the tree boundary and continues along the feld edge to the far corner. The OS map shows the right of way as going straight over the low hill to this corner, so you would be entitled to take this direct route from the road if you wished. 63. In the feld corner go over a stile in a wooden fence to continue across a smaller feld. In the next corner follow the path into the trees and round to the right. Go through a metal gate, across a stream on a footbridge and under a high railway bridge. Go through another gate and turn left as indicated onto a short path, where you go across a potentially muddy area on planks and over a stile into the corner of a large feld. 64. Continue along the bottom edge of this feld, parallel to the railway. At the far end go through a new metal kissing gate, taking care as you come out directly onto a road. The station access road is just of to the right. If the ticket ofce is locked you can go past it to get onto the single platform (where a plaque commemorates the victims of the Cowden rail crash6). The platform is used by trains in both directions, so be careful not to take an Uckfeld-bound train by mistake. These are scheduled to go through seven minutes before the London train, which is going from left to right. Walk Notes 1. The Eden Valley Walk runs for 24 km, linking the Wealdway and the Medway Valley Walk in Tonbridge to the Vanguard Way west of Edenbridge. 2. Crippenden Manor was built in 1607 by Richard Tichbourne, a local ironmaster. It is now part of a large Equestrian Centre. 3. Leighton Manor was originally a late medieval farmhouse but the property has been extensively modernised, with some attractive landscaped grounds and lakes. 4. The Sussex Border Path runs for 240 km along the length of West & East Sussex, from Thorney Island on the Hampshire border to Rye. 5. Waystrode Manor is a restored 15thC farmhouse, with later additions. The gardens of this private house are occasionally open to the public. 6. The Cowden rail crash was a fatal accident in October 1994. Five people died when a northbound train passed a red signal in thick fog and collided head-on with another train on the single-track section to the south-east of the station. 7. St Mary Magdalene, Cowden dates from the 13thC. A traditional couplet (reputedly about a dispute with another parish) refers to its slightly skewed spire: Cowden church, crooked steeple / Lying priest, deceitful people. A modern stained glass window celebrates “the remarkable preservation of this village during the years 1939-45”. 8. At this point Kent Water (a tributary of the River Medway) is the county boundary between Kent (to the north) and East Sussex. 9. Sussex House Farm was originally a timber-framed house dating from 1580 but was greatly enlarged at the beginning of the 21stC. 10. The 15thC Bolebroke Castle was one of the earliest brick buildings in Sussex. Conveniently close to Hever Castle, it was used as a hunting lodge by Henry Ⅷ during his pursuit of Anne Boleyn (and featured in the 2008 flm The Other Boleyn Girl). It has been extensively restored in the 21stC.

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